Hermitage is not only the greatest Russian museum of art, but is also an imperial residence built many years ago. Today, thanks to Andrey (blogger deletant), we have a chance to enjoy the interiors of the palace, including those used once by the tsar’s family.

First of all, the palace represents a baroque masterpiece whose author is the great Rastrelli himself.

In front of the palace is the famous Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square.

On the other side of the square is General Headquarters, with a famous sculpture on the arch.

This one has been the main flagstaff of the country for a long time.

The roof of the palace is beautified by numerous sculptures and vases.

The museum consists of the Winter Palace itself and several more buildings.

The arch over the Winter channel.

Palace facades.

The main staircase is called the Jordanian one.

It was named this after the Epiphany holiday when the sacred procession came down its steps to the Neva river for plunging into an ice hole (called “Jordan” in Russian).

Initially built by Rastrelli, the staircase burnt down in 1837 and was later restored by the architect Stasov.

Amazing place, been there many times. So incredibly over-the-top, all of this for ONE family- no wonder there was a revolution!

Somewhere I’ve read there are so many items in the Hermitage that if a person started at the beginning and looked at everything for one minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week it would still take 5 YEARS to see everything.

Also not mentioned: The babushkas that guard each room whose only job is to make sure no one touches anything!